When confusion ran rampant about federal closures during the government shutdown, we still had an array of outdoor choices with a wide variety of state and county parks less than a half-tank of gasoline away.

I’ll mention that after I wrote last week that the Cleveland National Forest’s website reported “recreation sites” were closed, officials later told me that most trails were open and promised to send a detailed list. Perhaps they sent it snail mail.

This map highlights the best outdoor wonders our Golden State offers – and it features jurisdictions. You might want to hang on to it just in case Washington fails to keep our federal lands open.

David Whiting is the award-winning Metro Columnist at The Orange County Register. He also can be heard on radio, has served as a television news anchor and speaks frequently at organizations and universities. He previously was an assistant managing editor and has received Columbia University’s Race and Ethnicity Award, National Headliner awards and Sigma Delta Chi’s Public Service Award. He recently was invited to participate in an exchange program with Chinese journalists. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan and his master’s from Columbia University’s Graduate School for Journalism. He is a two-time Ironman, a two-time Boston marathoner and has climbed the highest mountains in Africa and North and South America.